ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Deconstructing mental illness through ultradian rhythms

Posted: 21 Feb 2015 04:22 PM PST

Might living a structured life with regularly established meal times and early bedtimes lead to a better life and perhaps even prevent the onset of mental illness? That's what's suggested by a new study.

Newborn neurons in adult brain may help us adapt to environment

Posted: 21 Feb 2015 04:22 PM PST

The discovery that the human brain continues to produce new neurons in adulthood challenged a major dogma in the field of neuroscience, but the role of these neurons in behavior and cognition is still not clear. In a review article, researchers synthesize the vast literature on this topic, reviewing environmental factors that influence the birth of new neurons in the adult hippocampus.

Breastfeeding, other factors help shape immune system early in life

Posted: 21 Feb 2015 04:22 PM PST

Researchers say that breastfeeding and other factors influence a baby's immune system development and susceptibility to allergies and asthma by what's in their gut.

Popular YouTube videos drown viewers with positive portrayals of drunkenness

Posted: 20 Feb 2015 04:07 PM PST

The 70 most popular videos depicting drunkenness on YouTube account for more than 330 million views, with little portrayal of the negative outcomes of excessive alcohol consumption, according to a new analysis. The popularity of such videos on YouTube could be an opportunity for public health interventions aimed at educating teenagers and young adults of the negative consequences of intoxication.

Researchers sheds new light on biological pathways of vestibular schwannomas

Posted: 20 Feb 2015 04:06 PM PST

A new understanding of the pathobiology behind a head and neck tumor has been uncovered that may someday lead to new methods of targeted drug therapy, scientists report.

New research pinpoints crucial protein that keeps heart beating on time

Posted: 20 Feb 2015 12:04 PM PST

The average heart beats 35 million times a year - 2.5 billion times over a lifetime. Those beats must be precisely calibrated; even a small divergence from the metronomic rhythm can cause sudden death. For decades, scientists have wondered exactly how the heart stays so precisely on rhythm. Now, researchers have helped identify how a particular protein plays a central role in this astonishing consistency. This is the first time the mechanism has been described.

Chicago needs elected school board, study says

Posted: 20 Feb 2015 12:03 PM PST

Chicago needs an elected, representative school board, according to a report citing greater inequity after 20 years of mayoral control of Chicago Public Schools and its appointed school board.